Effects of fat supplementation on plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acid analysis in ponies maintained on a forage-based diet.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to observe how fat incorporated into an equine forage-based diet through supplementation altered levels of plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acids. Five Shetland/Hackney cross pony mares were fed alfalfa pellet diets top dressed with commercially available vegetable oil (blend of soya bean, canola and corn oils) at 0%, 5%, 10% or 15% of diet. Ponies were randomly assigned one of four diets to start, with a 14-day adjustment period between transitioning to another one of the four diets. Ponies were gradually adapted to the new diet within the 14-day period before a five-day trial period. Each pony received all four diets by the end of the study. Each trial was a five-day period with a three-day sample collection. Blood samples for each collection week were taken 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 and 270 min and at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 hr post-feeding. Excess fat did not impact plasma glucose (p > .1), nor did it affect blood plasma insulin concentration. While there was no time alteration found for plasma fatty acid concentration (p > .1), C14:0 increased when ponies were fed 0% fat and C18:2 decreased when ponies were fed 0% fat. Plasma fatty acids (% of total FA) were higher in C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C20:1 in the added fat diets (p < .1). These findings suggest the amounts reported in this study of fat supplementation on a forage-based diet did influence the fatty acid analysis within the pony, but did not negatively impact blood glucose and insulin concentrations.
© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2018-04-19 PubMed ID: 29671908DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12905Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the impact of adding varying amounts of fat to the diet of ponies and its effect on the levels of blood glucose, insulin, and fatty acids. The researchers found that while the fat additions changed the fatty acid composition within the ponies, it did not significantly alter glucose or insulin levels.
Study Design and Methodology
- The researchers assembled five Shetland/Hackney cross pony mares for the study, feeding them with alfalfa pellet diets supplemented with vegetable oil (a blend of soybean, canola, and corn oils).
- The diets were altered to contain different fat supplementation levels: 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% of the diet, with the ponies transitioning to a new diet every 14 days.
- The ponies were given time to adapt to the new diet within these 14 days before commencing a five-day trial period for each diet.
- Every pony received all four diets sequentially by the end of the research study.
- Blood samples were taken several times post-feeding during each trial period to measure the ponies’ plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acid levels.
Results and Findings
- The study showed no significant impact of the excess fat on the ponies’ plasma glucose or insulin levels (p > .1), indicating that the dietary changes did not affect blood sugar and insulin regulation.
- While time did not alter plasma fatty acid concentrations (p > .1), fatty acids C14:0 increased when ponies were fed a 0% fat supplement diet, while C18:2 decreased when fed the same 0% fat diet.
- Presence of certain fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C20:1) was noticeably higher in added fat diets, signifying changes in the fatty acid profile of the ponies due to the inclusion of fat.
Conclusion
- This study suggests that adding fat to a forage-based diet influences the fatty acid composition within ponies, but it does not negatively impact their plasma glucose or insulin concentrations.
- This information could help inform dietary recommendations for ponies, particularly in conditions that require a controlled insulin or glucose level.
Cite This Article
APA
Williams T, Rude B, Liao S, Mochal-King C, Nicodemus M.
(2018).
Effects of fat supplementation on plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acid analysis in ponies maintained on a forage-based diet.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 102(4), 1069-1076.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12905 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio.
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Diet / veterinary
- Fatty Acids / analysis
- Fatty Acids / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Insulin / metabolism
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